Curling Up Inside the Shell---As the Snow Keeps Falling
By now, the whole nation is probably aware of the weather in my area of the country. We have been
literally buried under something akin to 70-80 inches of snow, (depending on whose numbers are used). It has gotten to the point where places to put the snow are running out. Students have missed
six-out of eleven days of school in the last two weeks alone, due to weather. Many people, (who have the option), are working from home. Some, who are hourly employees, are flat-out missing work, and the opportunities for getting paid. Backs, arms and shoulders are achy, people are exhausted from all of the shoveling and snow-blowing, and there are cars parked along city streets that haven't seen the light of day for a couple of weeks. I commented to my daughter and her friend, whom I was driving into the city last week, (on yet another day in which they didn't have school), that the owners of those cars won't be going anywhere till the spring! Then there are the cars that are SO buried, the snow mounds covering them are starting to lose the identifying shape of car-ness! As I write, the tapping of the computer keyboard is creating an odd, arhythmic syncopation with the steady drip-drip-drip of the leak that is occurring in the next room that leads out onto my deck.
It is at times like these, that we mollusk-types do what comes so naturally to us-----we curl up inside of our shells. At THIS point, some non-mollusk types may be doing the same thing. A former colleague of mine posted on Facebook, things to do on a snow day: read, drink hot cocoa, Pinterest projects, organize photo albums, play outside in the snow, lesson-plan. I 'liked' her post. It sounds so idyllic and pretty, doesn't it? Then again, this woman is one of those teachers whose classroom always looks gorgeous----she should start a magazine: Better Classrooms and Gardens or something. SHE always LOOKS gorgeous too. So, it's natural that HER snow day would also be gorgeous and idyllic. MY snow day looks something like this: snow pants and outdoor jackets are hanging or draped over the railing in my mud area. Damp boots are recuperating from last night's blow and shovel episode on the stone floor, forming icy puddles where they stand----footless, waiting to be intruded-upon again, for the next snow adventure. There are shovels and ice scrapers leaning against the window and the walls like weapons in some armory, vigilant against the next onslaught. These are also forming icy puddles on the stone floor. There was even a casualty. One of the shovels' handle snapped off in my son's hand yesterday!
But in all battles, you never leave a soldier behind, so handle-less shovel leans there too, with its uninjured buddies, ready to do whatever it can the next time. I see the silhouette of icicles on the accordion shades and the bright white glint of sunlight against steel grey on the icicles that are completely visible through the glass slider doors. Three plastic containers are sitting on the towel I have on the floor in front of the slider----catching the drip-drip-drips from the ice damming of my roof.
There are cookies to be baked. I made a BIG batch of pancakes yesterday. My husband put up a big pot of vegetable soup a couple of weeks ago. Last night was a great night for reheating it, and eating it.
Warm beverages have been a big deal in our house during this White Wallop we've been experiencing.
Hot foods, anything needing preparation in an oven has been very popular lately. I've taken to having a glass of red wine (or two); continuing to mutter words like 'tannins' and 'antioxidants' as I sip.
As I write, one of the most exquisite sets of lyrics, (or poetry, actually), from Joni Mitchell is going through my head. It's called, Urge For Goin' ; it was recorded by Tom Rush among others. One verse goes like this:
"I'll ply the fire with kindling,
Pull the blankets to my chin---
I'll lock the vagrant winter out
And bolt my wanderin' in....."
If you haven't ever heard it, give a listen-----no better winter mood has ever been created through words and music, (IMHO).
Tomorrow, we should be able to get out again. No snow is being predicted for at least 24 hours!
Till then, I'm going to curl up, retreat into my shell. Maybe I'll have some hot chocolate. Maybe I'll read something. Or maybe I'll 'pull the blankets to my chin' .....and take a nap!
The Mollusk
